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Meditation Research Roundup 2021-01

2021-03-27/by Dr Peter Malinowski/in Meditation, Mindfulness, Research Roundup

Summary of meditation research 2021-01: In our regular meditation research roundups we provide a summary of meditation research, highlighting the most exciting recently published research about meditation and mindfulness that caught our eyes. This post includes several systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Two of them aggregated evidence about the influence of mindfulness meditation on different cognitive functions, one focuses in particular on reducing burnout in physicians, while the last one zooms in on heart rate variability, a psychophysiological parameter that might... Read more

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Can meditation lead to harm?

2021-01-20/by Dr Peter Malinowski/in Interventions, Meditation, Mindfulness, Psychology

While there can be no doubt that engaging in mindfulness practices or meditation can lead to harm or unpleasant or adverse effects, currently meditation research is not in a position to provide accurate estimates how likely such experiences are or under which conditions they may occur. Publicised prevalence estimates should thus be treated with scepticism. In a 2020 blog post, I discussed a study into potential negative side effects of the mindfulness-based stress reduction programme (MBSR). This study by Hirshberg... Read more

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Is mindfulness meditation harmful? [updated]

2020-08-01/by Dr Peter Malinowski/in Interventions, Meditation, Mindfulness, Psychology

A comprehensive study based on a dataset of more than 2,400 participants in mindfulness-based stress reduction programmes found that mindfulness meditation is not harmful in terms of psychological or physical symptoms, compared to no treatment. To the contrary, MBSR in the community appears to prevent harm. Update (13 Sept 2020): At the time of our initial post [01 Aug 2020], this study was only available as preprint, not yet peer reviewed. Meanwhile it has been peer reviewed and published in... Read more

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The Science of Mindfulness Meditation

2020-05-26/by Dr Peter Malinowski/in Meditation, Mindfulness, Neuroscience, Psychology

A brief explanation of the science of mindfulness meditation, how meditation works from a scientific perspective, what psychology and neuroscience have to say about it, why it is meaningful to meditate regularly, and what happens in the brain when we do so. Mindfulness meditation includes three components: Intention means, that we approach meditation with a certain purpose. While we meditate, we aim every moment to be purposeful or full of intention. Attention relates to the important aspect of training the... Read more

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Mindfulness meditation during shutdown

2020-04-12/by Dr Peter Malinowski/in Meditation, Mindfulness, Psychology

Mindfulness during uncertain times: How can we feel free while being grounded? We have heard claims that mindfulness is the solution to all our challenges. But how to we practice mindfulness meditation during the current shutdown? Regular mindfulness meditation equips us with the resilience and flexibility to face difficulties and allows us to live a more meaningful and fulfilled life. But it is not the magic bullet that we fire when feeling under pressure. It requires effort, dedication and –... Read more

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Mindfulness meditation: ten minutes a day improves cognitive function

2020-01-05/by Dr Peter Malinowski/in Meditation, Mindfulness, Neuroscience

Practising mindfulness meditation for ten minutes a day improves our cognition: after eight weeks meditators performed better in concentration tasks and were better able to keep information active in one’s mind, a function known as “working memory”. The brain achieves this by becoming more efficient, literally requiring fewer brain resources to do these tasks. Many big claims have been made about the effects of meditation, but too often the scientific evidence behind these claims is weak or even lacking altogether.... Read more

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Meditation and ageing: Cognitive improvements in older adults

2018-12-29/by Dr Peter Malinowski/in Meditation, Mindfulness

Yet another year is coming to an end and our time seems to be ticking away. Anyone feeling a bit older just by the thought of it? If so, do not despair, at least not if you fancy a bit of meditation. We now have the science about meditation and ageing: Injecting just a few minutes of meditation into our lives improves cognitive abilities – in people 55 to 75 years old! A range of recent studies suggest that regular... Read more

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Meditation and Neuroplasticity: Five key articles

2014-03-04/4 Comments/by Dr Peter Malinowski/in Meditation, Neuroscience

Meditation not only changes our mind but also our brain – this is what more and more neuroscientific research suggests. Neuroplasticity – the change of brain structures as a result of experience – is considered to be one of the most important discoveries of neuroscience. Over the last 10 years evidence has been growing that not only the acquisition of navigational knowledge by London Taxi drivers (see video) or learning a new motor task like juggling (see article), but also... Read more

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Advanced Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice raises body temperature – Part 2

2013-07-19/3 Comments/by Dr Peter Malinowski/in Meditation, Neuroscience, Physiology

The first part of this post talked about a study that confirmed centuries old reports that through the advanced Vajrayana meditation practice Tummo the core body temperature can be raised significantly. When the forceful breathing practice was combined with the related meditation exercise (as would be the case during this type of meditation), the yogis increased their core temperature by several degrees into the slightly feverish range. As mentioned in part 1, in addition to recording changes in body temperature... Read more

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Advanced Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice raises body temperature

2013-07-19/13 Comments/by Dr Peter Malinowski/in Meditation, Neuroscience, Physiology

Studying ten meditators of Tibetan Buddhism, a recent international research project provides solid evidence for centuries-old reports that through the advanced meditation practice Tummo, often referred to as “Inner Heat” or “Psychic Heat”, the core body temperature can be raised significantly. The Tummo (also “g-Tummo”) meditation practice is an advanced form of meditation that has been transmitted in the Vajrayana (or Diamond Way) traditions of Tibetan Buddhism for the last 900 years. The spectacular outer sign of this meditation is... Read more

Meditation Research Roundup 2021-01

Can meditation lead to harm?

Is mindfulness meditation harmful? [updated]

The Science of Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation during shutdown

Mindfulness meditation: ten minutes a day improves cognitive function

Meditation and ageing: Cognitive improvements in older adults

Meditation and Neuroplasticity: Five key articles

Advanced Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice raises body temperature – Part 2

Advanced Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice raises body temperature

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